Start with the house itself. Fit proper mesh screens on windows and doors, since a lot of Bali homes and villas were built for airflow, not for keeping mosquitoes out. Mosquito nets over cots and beds make the biggest difference for young kids. Use them for daytime naps too, because dengue-carrying mosquitoes bite mainly in the morning and late afternoon rather than at night. A ceiling fan or air conditioning in the room helps as well, since mosquitoes are weak flyers and struggle to land in moving air.
Most dengue mosquitoes breed within a short flight of the house, so check your own yard and rooftop every week. Empty water from plant saucers, buckets, old tires, and anything that collects rain after a storm. Cover water storage tanks (bak mandi) and any unused pools or fountains, and clear gutters that tend to clog with leaves. If you rent, ask your landlord or villa manager to do the same next door, since a neighbour's neglected water container can breed enough mosquitoes for the whole street.
Outside the house, dress kids in light, loose clothing that covers arms and legs during peak mosquito hours, and use a repellent made for children, applied to clothing and exposed skin as directed on the label. Citronella coils or diffusers help on open terraces but should not replace screens and nets. Dengue can look like an ordinary fever at first, so if your child develops a high fever, rash, severe headache, or joint and muscle pain, do not wait it out at home. Take them to a doctor or clinic promptly, since early monitoring makes a real difference with dengue in kids.
This is general information, not medical advice. For anything specific to your child, please consult a doctor or a travel-health clinic.
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